LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Glynn Watson Jr. hit back-to-back baskets in the last two minutes and made four free throws in the final 12 seconds to lift Nebraska to a 72-68 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
Nebraska struggled to score throughout the game, hitting just 39 percent of its shots from the field and making just 19 of 35 free throws in the season opener for both teams.
Eastern Illinois, which shot 40 percent for the game, led 54-48 on Montell Goodwin's 3-pointer with 9:14 left.
The Huskers hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie the game and pulled away to lead 66-59 after Watson's two baskets, the second banked in from the lane while falling down, and a pair of Evan Taylor free throws with 45 seconds left.
The Panthers, who had hit just one of their previous 10 shots, hit three baskets down the stretch, cutting the Husker lead to 68-66 on D'Angelo Jackson's driving layup and free throw with 12.9 seconds left.
Watson hit free throws with 11.8 seconds left and, after another Panther driving layup, with 3.6 seconds remaining to seal the win
Nebraska led 34-33 at half despite a nearly six-minute stretch when the Huskers made just 2 of 14 shots.
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